MyOlympus.org
The Photographic Community for Users of Olympus and OM system micro 4/3 digital cameras and E-series DSLRs
MyOlympus.orgPublic folders > Bruce Thomas > E-420 does not like ND filters

E-420 does not like ND filters

E-420 does not like ND filters
Copyright ©2008, Bruce Thomas
Viewed times

This is resized to 800x600, otherwise is straight out of the OLY E-420 camera.

I like to shoot water at slow shutter speeds and many times the time of day that I am available, requires the use of some ND filters to get that slow shutter speed.

The first serious shoot with the new Olympus E-420, I shot some water at high noon, used (2) -3 stop ND filters. The result was REALLY BAD!! So I thought...what the heck, and tested on a tripod back at home. Judging via the LCD only, it looked like the E-420 would tolerate ONE ND filter without ruining the WB but not two.

Back out into the field in the evening where I needed one ND filter to get the shutter speeds I desired, (also used "Shade" WB, not AUTO). In the field, on the LCD, this shot looked REALLY GREAT!! I was pleased.

Back home, and everything is approx 1/2 as crappy as it was when I used the TWO ND filters!!!

My conclusion is that I won't be able to use this camera for any filterized shootin'...and is in effect a Point-n-shoot dSLR...

If you NEVER use filters, you'll love this little camera. If you do shoot via filters on a regular basis, you'll HATE this little camera.

I do exactly the same shots with the E-330 on a regular basis, and I have nothing but outstanding results...

The E-420 will have to be sold...I cannot deal with this behaviour.

Photographer: Bruce Thomas
Folder: Bruce Thomas
Uploaded: 12-May-2008 04:06 CEST
Model release available:
Camera: Olympus C4000
Exposure time:
Aperture:
Focal length:
Lens:
Focusing method:
ISO:
White balance:
Flash: no
Image format:
Processing applied:
Various:
Image resized to: 600x800

Comment/Rate Share this Image

NO SUBJECT

Not being familiar with this camera Bruce I ask if it has a manual operation? The image here appears underexposed. But then you know that.

Val Bridge at 13:56 CEST on 12-May-2008 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

Yes, it has manual. This was in Aperture Priority. The image on the LCD in the field looked FAR DIFFERENT from what you see here. I did not suspect underexposure or a whacky color balance...it looked great on the LCD in the field.

Take the filter off, and you get a fantastic photo on the LCD and at home in the actual file.

Put the ND filter on, and you get a fantastic looking photo on the LCD and a mess when you get home, in the actual file.

This is not the first dSLR camera I have seen where the view seen on the LCD does not match what was written to the card.

I tend to prefer EVF cameras for just this reason. They seem to show EXACTLY what was captured, no surprises when you get home.

Bruce Thomas at 14:24 CEST on 12-May-2008 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

Thanks for the information Bruce , wish more people would share this kind of info with us all...
Cheers,

Fonzy - at 21:10 CEST on 13-May-2008 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

Your Welcome Fons...!!

I just had a gander at the E-520 (via the press release) and it sure appears to be the E-420 with internal IS added.

Looks like the E-330 and E-500 will be the "classics" for me, that will handle filters properly.

See Ya....

Bruce Thomas at 21:31 CEST on 13-May-2008 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

beautiful image, great colors.

Rina Kupfer at 04:59 CEST on 14-May-2008 [Reply]

Filters

I was wondering what brand of filters you used.

I bought an generic infrared filter to use with my E500 and I noticed the pictures were very soft, nothing was sharp even the stationary objects.

My polarizers didn't do that. I have a Canon and Hoya polarizer that I use from time to time.

I did take your picture and lightened it with Olympus Master 2.0. It looked decent except it was soft.
What software did you use for this?

Kevin Dude at 18:15 CEST on 14-May-2008 [Reply]

NO SUBJECT

The brand of ND filters for this happened to be Cokin series "A". They are plastic, I have also tried glass Hoya ND filters and the results on this camera were exactly the same.

The E-330 and E-500 are much better at tolerating the ND filters than this brand new E-420 is...

No software changes in this photo, except resizing. Photoshop Elements 3.0 was used. Yes, I know it can be corrected. That was not my point in posting this...

Infrared is a very different animal and is best done on the older C-2000, C-2020 qnd C-2100 Olympus cameras. "Modern" cameras (all brands) have a filter that blocks IR light from reaching the sensor. This is done for White Balance reasons. The older Olympus cameras had a crummy IR Blocking filter and therefore, work well with an IR filters.



See Ya...



Goatee Dude wrote:
> I was wondering what brand of filters you used.
>
> I bought an generic infrared filter to use with my E500 and I noticed the pictures were very
> soft, nothing was sharp even the stationary objects.
>
> My polarizers didn't do that. I have a Canon and Hoya polarizer that I use from time to time.
>
> I did take your picture and lightened it with Olympus Master 2.0. It looked decent except
> it was soft.
> What software did you use for this?
>

Bruce Thomas at 19:20 CEST on 14-May-2008 [Reply]